Vampire energy or phantom load is the power used by electronics and appliances when they're not performing their main function.  Vampire energy is estimated to cost U.S. consumers $3 billion a year.  The average household spends $100 per year to power devices when they are off!   Home office equipment (computers, monitors, speakers, printers), TVs, cell phones, ipods, power tools, and other electronics all use power even if they aren't in use.  Some of these products use more power when they are off than when they are on!

What you can do:

1. Unplug your electronics when not in use.  Use power strips to turn off multiple devices at the same time.  

2. Use a smart power strip.  These power strips automatically cut power to other devices when you power down the control device.  For example, when you shut down your computer the smart power strip will automatically cut power to the monitor, speakers, printer, and other devices associated with the computer.  Other smart strips have wireless switches that allow you to turn off the power strip using a wall mounted switch as you leave the room.   

How much vampire power are my devices using? 

The numbers below are for average standby modes, showing how much electricity is sucked out annually, in kilowatt hours, and what it costs you—assuming 11 cents per kilowatt hour. Red lines show passive standby mode; blue lines show active standby mode.

Click here for a larger version (pdf).